Knitting-machine.



No. 656,535. Patente-d Aug. 2|, |900.

\ M. FISH-ER.

KNITTING MACHINE (Appication filed Mar. 13, 1899.)

rnd Model.) 2 sheets-sheet l.

yl; 2f f Patented Aug. 2l, |900.

M. J. FISHER-1;

`KNITTVING"nl'AcHnu-z` f (Application f led Mar. 13, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

{No Mudelf) IillllllllllllllllllIl IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Y Nrran STATESMICHEL J. FISHER, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

KNITTING- MACHINE.`

SPECIFICATION formngpart of Letters Patent No. 656,535, dated August 21,1900. Application filed March 13, 1899. Serial No. 708,834. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, MICHEL J. FISHER, of Utica, in the county of Oneida,in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inKnitting-Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a circular-knitting machine having a dial andcylinder with two sets of needles carried thereby of usual coustructionand mode of operation; and it consists in adding thereto asupplementarycylinder having grooves in its outer surface in which arecarried sinkers depressed by a camcylinder of suitable construction toengage with an extra thread and secure it on one surface of the fabric,forming oating loops.

This is the essence of my invention, which may be varied more or lessinl construction. I have shown it embodied in a simple and practicalform of machine, which will be easily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which the same letters and numerals ofreference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Figure I is a front elevation showing all the parts necessary to acomplete understanding of my invention and its operation. Fig. II is avertical section of a portion of the preceding figure enlarged. Fig. IIIis a plan section on line III III of Fig. II. Fig. IV is an elevation ofa portion of the smaller cam-cylinder with the front plates of thecylinderremoved to illustrate the operation of the sinkers. Fig. V is adiagram matic representation illustrating the manner in which the sinkerpresses down the extra thread over the open latches of the dial-needles.Fig. VI is a sectional view of a portion of Fig. III enlarged, showingthe arrangement of the smaller cylinder with reference to the dial. Fig.VII is a frontvelev'ation of Fig. VI. Fig. VIII shows a front and sideelevation of my peculiar sinker. Fig. IX is an isometric view showingmechanism for adjusting the cams. Fig. X is a top plan View of thepreceding figure.

The old parts ofthe `machine are as follows: f f i 1 indicates theframe, of suitable construction, on which is supported the cylinder 2,formed-with grooves'n for needles 4 and rotated through a toothed ring5, with which engages a pinion G on shaft 7, operated by suitable means.

8 is the camcylinder,fixed on the frame for operating cylinder-needles.

' On central shaft 9 is supported to turn freely dial 10, formed withhorizontal grooves l1 for the dial-needles .12, operated by camring 13,detachably secured by arms 14 to center 15, keyed to shaft by screw 16or otherwise, the dial being rotated from the cylinder by the engagementof dial-lugs 17 17 with ear 18,011 the cylinder. The new parts which Ihave invented are the su pplementary or small cylinder 20, connected tothe dial by any suitable means. As here shown, the dial and smallcylinder are e'qual in outer diameter, and a small groove 21 is cut inthe edge of the former corresponding in horizontal depth to thethickness of the small cylinder, so that when this cylinder is forcedinto position in this groove the parts are secured togetherand rotate asone. In the vertical grooves 22 in the outer face of the small cylinderare arranged the sinkers 23, which are depressed and elevated by theengagement of their heels in cam-groove 2a of smaller cam-cylinder 25,formed of separate sections or side plates and carried on annular plateor ring 26, supported on frame or table by posts 27 and arms 28.Alternately with grooves 2.2 are cut grooves 40 in the lower edge of thesmall cylinder for the passage of the dial-needles.

29 is the depressing-cam, 30 a plane segment above the groove, and 3lthe elevatingcam.

32 is an elastic band or girdle of steelspring constructionsurrounding'the upper cylinder to maintain the sinkers and hold y themin position.

33 is the feed for main thread, and` 34 the feed for supplementarythread, with brush 35 for guiding and holding thread against,sink ers.These feeds are secured to ring 26 and may be of any desirable form. i

As here illustrated the machine is adapted to kuit one-and-one ribfabric, (though this may be changed easily to knit other desirablestitches,) the sinkers being arranged to operate between thedial-needles and immediately back of the main-cylinder needles.

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inder needles begin to move respectively out l and up the sinkers aredepressed from point ct to point b and engage with the supplementarythread fed to them by feed 3i, arranged AIO slightly in advance of mainfeed 33; When the sinkers are depressed to point b, they are in theposition shown in Fig. V, pressing down the supplementary thread betweenthe alternate dial-needles, so that it rests on the open latches ofthose needles. The reason of this engagement with the open latches isthat as the dialneedles continue their outward movement the extra threadslips back over the ends of the latches onto the Shanks of the needles,where it is left with just al trifle Aof slack, so that as t-hedial-needles move in again', having engaged with the main thread, theydraw it easily under the eXtra thread, which is cast o over theneedle-hooks at the same time as one loop of the main thread and iscaught on the inside ofthe fabric by the loops of the main threadwithout strain or breaking the thread or danger of the extra threadshowing through on the front. While this continuation ot' the outwardmovement and the return movement of the dial-needles is proceeding thesinkers are moving from b to c, holding down the eXtra thread at thesame level; but after the-extra thread is cast off over the needlehooksthe sinkers are further depressed a triiie by the short incline d, whichoperates to tighten the eXtra-thread loops, taking up the slack andperfecting the smoothness of the fabric. After that it is evident thatthe sinkers are again elevated by incline e, and the operation isrepeated, the number of feeds being proportioned to the size of themachine.

In Fig. VIII, I have shown enlarged in side and front elevation a formof sinker that I have devised particularly adapted for use in myknitter. It is formed with a straight inner edge g, having square vheelh on the upper end of its outer edge. Point j is rounded off on theinner edge and ground on the sides, making the point thinner to passmore easily between the threads. A short distance above the point is thenotch k, formed substantial-ly in thearc of a circle, which holds thethread securely in place without danger of slipping out/the outerwalllofthe notch being slightly ground off to incline inwardly and avoidengaging with the other threads. These silikers are easily and cheaplyconstructed from sheet metal and are strong and durable and .easy toreplace if lbroken by removing one of the side plates of smaller cam-cylinder 25, which Yis made in sections for this reason, each platebeing secured by screws to supportingring 26. i

InFigs. IX and X is shown a sim-pleconstruction by which the cams may beeasily adjusted without removing any ofthe parts. As here shown, the cam29 (or plane segment 30) is secured to lugs o, fitted snugly to openingsp and sliding therein. In the opening below the cam is arranged a spiralspring q, earing against the lug to force the cam and segment upwardly.Screws are inserted in the ring 26, which bear on the lugs to force themdown more or less to adj ust the cams.

While I have shown myinvention embodied in a special construction ofrotary knitter, I do not propose to limit myself thereto, for it isevident that the arrangement of parts, the inclination ofneedle-grooves, &c., could be varied without departing from myinvention, its essence being the addition of a supplementary or eXtracylinder carrying sinkers and means for operating them to press down anextra thread between the dial-needles to form floating loops on onesurface of the fabric.

The advantages of a rotary knitter constructed according to my inventionare not only its simplicity and ease with which it is operated andadjusted andthe few necessary repairs performed", but the fact that itcan be applied to any size of rotary knitter without limiting theproduct, for the machine may be run exactly as fast with the additionofl my invention as without., Of course this question of speed is ofgreat importance. Other machines have been tried for the Same purpose;but the fact that they had to be yrun Slowly prevented their use.

My invention can be used equally well with circular knitters of thelargest and smallest sizes, which is another important feature, for themachines that have been tried were so constructed that they could not bemade in the smaller sizes. My invention may be applied, therefore, tomachines for knitting sleeves for garments, so that by cutting,`shearing,or tleecing the protrudingloops thesleeves may bemadeffleece-lined like ythe larger parts of the garment. A

The adjustment of the mechanism `is in itself very easy, by which strainon the yarn is avoided and a perfect smooth fabric is pro.- duced, andall the parts are arranged to be easily accessible on the outside andnot on the inside, so to say., which renders adjustment, renewal ofparts, dac., .convenient and quick.

' Having .described my -mlention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let-ters Patent, is?

1. The combination with a circular-knit,- ting machine, of the ordinaryconstruction, having two sets .of,operating-needles, of asn-pplementarycylinder of smaller diameter than the main cylinder mounted above the`dial and arranged to move therewith, saidsupplementary cylinder havingperipheral groov., sinkers Aarranged in said grooves,and means forelevating and depressing said sinkers, sot

as to engage and press down a supplementary thread to form loops on onesurface of the fabric. l

2. The combination with a circular-knit- IOO IIO

ting machine, of the ordinary construction, having two sets ot'operating-n eedles, of a s upplementary cylinder arranged above andconnected to move with the dial, said supplementary cylinder beingprovided with peripheral grooves, individual sinkers arranged one ineach of said grooves, and means for elevating and depressing saidsinkers, so as to engage and press down a supplementary thread to formloops on the surface of the fabric.

3. The combination with a circular-knitting mach-ine, of the ordinaryconstruction, having two sets of operating-needles, of a su pplementarycylinder arranged above the dial and connected thereto, said cylinderhaving substantially-vertical grooves, and sinkers operating in saidgrooves, between the dialneedles, to press an additional thread downbetween said dial-needles, so as to form loops protruding from the innersurface of the garment being knitted.

4. The combination with a circular-knitting machine of ordinaryconstruction, of a supplementary cylinder arranged above the dial andconnected thereto, said cylinder provided with peripheral grooves,sinkers arranged to operate in said grooves, and a supplementarycam-cylinder formed with a camgroove for engaging the heels of saidsinkers, so as to cause them to press down an additional thread betweenythe dialneedles, whereby protruding loops are formed upon the innerface of the fabric.

5. The combination with a circular-knitting machine of ordinaryconstruction, of a supplementary cylinder of smaller diameter than themain cylinder, saidsupplementary cylinder arranged above the dial andconnected to move therewith, grooves in the outer periphery of thesupplementary cylinder, sinkers arranged in said grooves and adapted tooperate in the spaces between the dialneedles and directly behind themain-cylinder needles, and a supplementary cam-cylinder provided with acam-groove adapted to engage the heels of said sinkers and depress them,so as to engage and press down an additional thread between thedial-needles.

6. In combination with a rotary knittingmachine provided with a dial andcylinder carrying their respective sets of needles, and means forsupporting and operating the parts in cooperation to knit the fabric,all of ordinary construction, a supplementary cylinder, smaller than themain cylinder, equal in diameter to the dial and set in a groove cut inthe outer edge of said dial, in which said supplementary cylinder tssnugly securing it to the dial, grooves cut inthe lower edge of saidsupplementary cylinder for the passage of the dial-needles,substantially-vertical grooves cut in the outer face of saidsupplementary cylinder alternately with said edge grooves, sinkersarranged in the latter grooves, a supporting-ring or annular platesupported on the frame of the machine above said supplementary cylinder,a smaller cam-cylinder vmade in sections secured to said annular plate,

and cams arranged on the inner faceot said ismall cam-cylinder forming acam-groove to engage with the sinker-heels, adapted to press down saidsinkers to engage with the eXtra -groove cut in the outer edge of saiddial,

grooves cut in the lower edge of said supplementary cylinder for thepassage of the dialneedles, substantially-vertical grooves cut in theouter face of said supplementary cylinder alternately with said edgegrooves, sinkers arranged in the latter grooves, a supporting-ring orannular plate supported on the frame of the machine above 'saidsupplementary cylinder, a smaller cam cylinder made in sections securedto said annular plate, cams arranged on the inner face of said smallcam-cylinder forming a cam-groove to engage with the sinker-heels,adapted to press down said sinkers to engage with the extra thread andforce it downwardly between the alternate dial-needles, said cams beingso arranged with reference to the cams operating the maincylinder anddial needles that the sinkers are depressed when the dial-needles aremoving out pressing the eXtra thread down over the open latches of saiddial-needles and said cams formed with a horizontal portion to hold thesinkers at that level until the dial-needles have completed theiroutward movement and also their return movement, and a small incline tofurther depress the sinkers after the extra thread has been cast 0E overthe needlehooks to take up the slack and tighten said thread.

8. In acircular-knittingmachine, the combination of a supplementarycylinder provided with sinkers for pressing down an additional thread,sinkers'having a straight inner edge,an outwardly-extending heel formednear their upper end, a point rounded on its inner edge and ground downon each side thereof to form a substantially-thin edge to the point, ashoulder formed a short distance above the point, and a downwardlyopencurved notch formed in the upper wall of said shoulder, as set forth.

9. In a circular-knitting machine, a cylinder and dial of usualconstruction suitably IOO los

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supported and carrying respectively vertical and horizontallatch-needles, means for rotating the cylinder and dial, iixedcam-cylinder and cam-plate for operating said respective sets ofneedles,and, in combination therewith, a smaller, supplementary cylinderarranged `above the main cylinder on said shaft and tted snugly to anannular groove cutin the edge of the dial, vertical grooves in saidsmaller cylinder arranged alternately with the horizontal grooves in thedial,said smallercylinder grooves being deeper above, the diameter ofsaid cylinder diminishing toward its lower edges, sinkers arranged insaid vertical grooves having on their outer edge, near their upper endheels, to engage with the cam-groove, and notches near their lower ends,and adapted to move down within the circle of the needles of the maincylinder and between the dial-needles to engage with a supplementarythread when they are depressed, forcing it over the dial-needle loops,forming slightly-loose loops therebetween, a iixed cam-cylinder having acam-groove and adjustable cams for engaging the heels of said sinkers,an elastic steel band arranged around said sinkers and engaging withthem beneath their heels, and an annular plate supported on the frame byarms and posts, to which plate the sections of said cam-cylinder aresecured.

10. The combination with a rotary knittingmachine of ordinaryconstruction, of a supplementary cylinder, mounted on the central shaftof the machine and connected to the dial, said supplementary cylinderhaving its lower edge grooved correspondingly with the dial for the freeoperation ofthe dial-needles,

and its outer periphery provided with vertical grooves, sinkers arrangedto operate in said vertical grooves, and a supplementary Acam-cylinderprovided with a cam-groove,

adapted to engage and depress the sinkers, so as to cause said sinkersto engage and press down an additional thread between the dialneedles.

ll. The combination with a rota ry knitting-machine, of a supplementarycylinder, mounted on the central shaft of the machine and connected tothe dial, said supplementary cylinder having its lower edge groovedcorrespondinglywith the dial for the passage of the dial-needles, andits outer periphery provided with vertical grooves, sinkers arranged tooperate in said vertical grooves, a supporting ring or annulus mountedupon the inachine-fraine, and a supplementary cam-cylin der, supportedby the ring or annulus, provided with a cam-groove adapted to engage anddepress the sinkcrs, as and for the purpose speciiied.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

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